Special Education parents in Macomb urge for programs beginning at birth

By FRANK DeFRANK

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Parents of Macomb County's special education students are urging state education officials to maintain a system that makes their children eligible for programs from birth to age 26.

The state's Office of Special Education, which governs special education, periodically considers changes to rules. Such a review is under way now.

Macomb parents are concerned about several possible changes, but in particular a proposal that would rewrite rules that provide Early Childhood Services that begin at birth.

"So many studies have shown that early intervention is the key," said Shelley Petty, mother of a special education student and a member of the Parent Advisory Council.

"Look at autism. How many kids have a chance to have a normal life if they have that early intervention? When you can find that problem immediately, those kids have a much better chance."

Beth Alberti, assistant superintendent of special education for the Macomb Intermediate School District, said the issue is more about language in the proposed rule change.

While services would not necessarily be eliminated, the proposal would write a separate rule to apply to children under age 2. Alberti maintains that could cause confusion and possibly create a negative impact on the youngest children.

"It's poorly written," Alberti said. "They want to define infants and toddlers, but there is no definition in the Michigan mandatory (special education) law."

Alberti and the MISD have communicated their concerns to special education parents, and urged them to take advantage of an opportunity to comment on the proposals before they're adopted. The deadline for comments in Friday.

"Unlike legislation, this is the kind of thing where the public can make comments," she said. "We want the public to make comments."

According to the MISD, more than 700 children in Macomb County receive special education services between birth and age 3.

"These are babies that really need very intensive support at a very young age," she said.